Hey all you juggling guys. I’m thinking about starting to learn some juggling. I know how to do the standard 3 ball pattern and I’m working on learning 4. I want to get some cheap juggling balls to help me. I don’t want to spend too much and, seeing as I’m not going pro or anything, I don’t think I need very good balls.
So what are my options? What balls should I get and where should I get them?
I also want to learn clubs as well, so I might as well ask your opinion on that as well.
Thanks,
Daniel
Check out the Vendors link on Internet Juggling Database (IJDb).
For balls: consider beanbags for learning - they don’t bounce or roll away nearly as much as balls. Performers often prefer silicon balls, they bounce great and clean easlily, but run about $25 per ball.
For clubs: Our local group uses (almost exclusively) renegade juggling clubs. The “standard” size is the 95mm, smaller are easier on the hands, larger are more pleasing to audiences.
Renegade, Todd Smith, and Dube all sell good clubs; I’m sure there are other good brands out there. My opinion: Do NOT get the inexpensive (i.e. cheap) jugglebug clubs - they are brutal on one’s hands. The best inexpensive clubs I am familiar with are Dube’s unibody Airflite clubs; $13 each, a decent weight and balance, and reasonably durable and comfortable.
Also, check the online resources to see if there are any local juggling groups - find out what they like to juggle.
Duaner’s advice is right on. I recommend the Peach beanbags from Dube. They are a good weight, size, and the peach fuzz finish gives them an excellent grip. They’re a bit pricey though. You can always get three tennis balls, put small slits in them and fill them halfway with sand (which I believe you have in Hawaii. 
). Also, as you’re just starting out, go to toy stores and pet shops and handle the different types of balls/beanbags there and see what you like. There’s nothing that says you have to use “professional” juggling equipment.
As for clubs, I happen to use the Dube Airflites exclusively. Some people complain that they’re rough on the hands and that is probably to some extent true. However, I get very tired of having to repair the composite clubs. The decorations come loose, dowels crack, knobs pop off. The Airflites are one piece of molded plastic. I still use the ones I got in the early 80s. And they are the least expensive quality clubs you can find.
Good luck and have fun.
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
OK. I’m a total hack when it comes to juggling so take the advice of the pros if you’re wanting to get serious about juggling. I just do it at home to help improve my concentration and focus and for fun. I use hackey sacks. I think the size is good and they don’t bounce away from me when I drop one. Plus they’re always handy when I want to kick a sack around. I’ve heard that La Crosse (sp?) balls are good too. I bought a set of el cheapo clubs on ebay for $19. They plastic and probably the wrong weight and balance but I don’t know any better so I think they’re fine. I got to where I could juggle them well fairly quickly. Maybe if I tried good clubs it would spoil me. Good luck. Juggling is fun.
I have sand filled tennis balls. They work amazingly well and are cheap to make. I made mine about 15 years ago and they’re still going strong (I obviously don’t use them enough 
).
Some tips. Make the slit as small as possible. I used tape to seal the slit but if I was to do it again I would try to seal the hole with Shoe Goo or some other similar adhesive sealant. I don’t know if the Shoe Goo type adhesive will hold, but it’s worth a shot. If it doesn’t hold you can go with the tape. But the tape looks kind of ghetto though. A tapeless solution would look better.